Ashes 2023 first Test: England and Australia player ratings at Edgbaston

Zak Crawley

The shot with which he started the match was hardly bettered all game, and was the start of a fine innings. Unlucky to then be batting in those few wild second-innings minutes. 7

Ben Duckett

Nicked off twice, to a notably poor shot in the first innings. Never leaving the ball is a jolly jape, but there’s a time and a place ... 5

Ollie Pope

Fell to one good delivery and one superb one: a batter can’t really be blamed sometimes. Hours of selfless service at short leg. 6

Joe Root

Stumped for the first time in his Test career, but 164 runs for once out, those awe-inspiring reverse scoops and an excellent effort with the ball on the final day made for an outstanding performance. 9

Harry Brook

Batted well in both innings, was extraordinarily unlucky with his freak dismissal in the first and fell to an outstanding catch in the second. Moderate numbers, but very promising signs for the series ahead. 8

Ben Stokes

The vibes. The declaration. The umbrella fields. Bowling when knackered and still dismissing Khawaja. Take the result out of it, he made this game great. His team did lose, mind. 8

Jonny Bairstow

Batted well, in the first innings particularly, but made crucial errors behind the stumps to keep the wicketkeeping debate rumbling. 5

Moeen Ali

Ended the match with 39 runs, two wickets and a hole in his finger. His return was not as painful to watch as it was to play but it wasn’t an overwhelming success either. 5

Stuart Broad

Has a supernatural ability to manufacture drama, and but for the excess of no-balls both bowling and crowd-rousing have been on point. 8

Ollie Robinson

Took key wickets at crucial moments, bowled with great discipline and batted with impressive control (until he biffed one